A survey of 170 years of Swiss glaciology that highlights the rapid deglaciation of the Swiss Alps due to global warming.

Global warming—which is at least partly caused by industrialization—has led to Alpine glaciers losing more than half of their surface area and two-thirds of their volume since the late nineteenth century. We know these facts thanks to 170 years of systematic surveyal of Swiss glaciers: glaciology as a field of research has been shaped decisively by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) since its founding in 1855.

Deglaciation—Surveying the Ice takes readers on an impressive journey across the history of Swiss glaciology. The book shares adventurous Alpine expeditions and early theories of the Ice Age, as well as fascinating insights into state-of-the-art surveying methods. Moreover, it explores questions about the future of the Europe’s Alpine region in an era of rapid deglaciation and highlights the powerful symbolism of glaciers in current climate discourse.

The volume is richly illustrated with images from the vast archives of the Glaciological Commission and the Chair of Glaciology at ETH Zürich.